PCCN EXAMINATION TEST 2026 FULL SOLVED
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
◉ The main cause of cardiogenic shock is: Answer: an inability of the
heart to pump blood forward.
◉ With anaphylactic shock, which mechanism results in a decreased
cardiac output? Answer: Peripheral vasodilation
◉ The gastrointestinal system is a common target organ for MODS
following septic shock due to: Answer: disruption of the mucosal
barrier from hypoperfusion.
◉ Clinical manifestations of ischemic hepatitis show up 1 to 2 days
after the insult. Which symptom is indicative of hepatic
insufficiency? Answer: Jaundice
◉ The difference between primary and secondary multiple organ
dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is that primary MODS is the result of:
Answer: direct organ injury.
◉ The patient is hypovolemic, has decreased breath sounds, and
shows dullness to percussion on the injured side. This is suspicious
of: Answer: Hemothorax
,◉ A patient with a cervical spinal cord injury becomes hypotensive
and bradycardic. The nurse will notify the physician and prepare to
administer: Answer: ephedrine
◉ To prevent respiratory complications, such as pneumonia and
atelectasis, in the patient with fractured ribs, the nurse will carefully
monitor the patient's need for: Answer: analgesia
◉ The patient has experienced a deceleration trauma injury to the
chest, and there is a significant difference in the blood pressures in
the left and right upper extremities. The nurse's priority action is to:
Answer: measure blood pressure in both lower extremities.
◉ Nutritional support of the trauma patient is especially important
because: Answer: a post-traumatic hypermetabolic response occurs
after injury
◉ In addition to having the usual host susceptibility to pathogens,
the trauma patient is at risk for infection because of: Answer:
adverse effects of trauma on the immune system.
◉ How do you open the airway of an unresponsive trauma patient in
the emergency department? Answer: Chin lift/jaw thrust maneuver
should be used.
,◉ Tension pneumothorax is characterized by mediastinal shift that
often results in? Answer: Lung collapse on the injured side
◉ a. Verapamil
Class and uses Answer: Antidysrhythmic
used for angina, hypertension, supraventricular arrhythmia and
atrial fibrillation or flutter, tardive dyskinesia
◉ diltiazem
Class and uses Answer: Antidysrhythmic
used for angina, hypertension, supraventricular arrhythmia and
atrial fibrillation or flutter, tardive dyskinesia
◉ amlodipine
class and uses Answer: Calcium channel blocker
, HTN, angina
◉ more ____ ion resides in ICF and more ____ ion resides in ECF
Answer: potassium, sodium
◉ electrical potential across membrane = ____ Answer: -90mV
◉ on an EKG, this portion shows atrial depolarization Answer: P
wave
◉ on an EKG, this portion shows ventricular depolarization Answer:
QRS complex
◉ on an EKG, this portion shows ventricular repolarization Answer:
T wave
◉ beginning of P -> beginning of QRS Answer: PR interval:
◉ beginning of QRS -> end of T Answer: QT interval:
◉ end of QRS -> beginning of T Answer: ST segment:
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
◉ The main cause of cardiogenic shock is: Answer: an inability of the
heart to pump blood forward.
◉ With anaphylactic shock, which mechanism results in a decreased
cardiac output? Answer: Peripheral vasodilation
◉ The gastrointestinal system is a common target organ for MODS
following septic shock due to: Answer: disruption of the mucosal
barrier from hypoperfusion.
◉ Clinical manifestations of ischemic hepatitis show up 1 to 2 days
after the insult. Which symptom is indicative of hepatic
insufficiency? Answer: Jaundice
◉ The difference between primary and secondary multiple organ
dysfunction syndrome (MODS) is that primary MODS is the result of:
Answer: direct organ injury.
◉ The patient is hypovolemic, has decreased breath sounds, and
shows dullness to percussion on the injured side. This is suspicious
of: Answer: Hemothorax
,◉ A patient with a cervical spinal cord injury becomes hypotensive
and bradycardic. The nurse will notify the physician and prepare to
administer: Answer: ephedrine
◉ To prevent respiratory complications, such as pneumonia and
atelectasis, in the patient with fractured ribs, the nurse will carefully
monitor the patient's need for: Answer: analgesia
◉ The patient has experienced a deceleration trauma injury to the
chest, and there is a significant difference in the blood pressures in
the left and right upper extremities. The nurse's priority action is to:
Answer: measure blood pressure in both lower extremities.
◉ Nutritional support of the trauma patient is especially important
because: Answer: a post-traumatic hypermetabolic response occurs
after injury
◉ In addition to having the usual host susceptibility to pathogens,
the trauma patient is at risk for infection because of: Answer:
adverse effects of trauma on the immune system.
◉ How do you open the airway of an unresponsive trauma patient in
the emergency department? Answer: Chin lift/jaw thrust maneuver
should be used.
,◉ Tension pneumothorax is characterized by mediastinal shift that
often results in? Answer: Lung collapse on the injured side
◉ a. Verapamil
Class and uses Answer: Antidysrhythmic
used for angina, hypertension, supraventricular arrhythmia and
atrial fibrillation or flutter, tardive dyskinesia
◉ diltiazem
Class and uses Answer: Antidysrhythmic
used for angina, hypertension, supraventricular arrhythmia and
atrial fibrillation or flutter, tardive dyskinesia
◉ amlodipine
class and uses Answer: Calcium channel blocker
, HTN, angina
◉ more ____ ion resides in ICF and more ____ ion resides in ECF
Answer: potassium, sodium
◉ electrical potential across membrane = ____ Answer: -90mV
◉ on an EKG, this portion shows atrial depolarization Answer: P
wave
◉ on an EKG, this portion shows ventricular depolarization Answer:
QRS complex
◉ on an EKG, this portion shows ventricular repolarization Answer:
T wave
◉ beginning of P -> beginning of QRS Answer: PR interval:
◉ beginning of QRS -> end of T Answer: QT interval:
◉ end of QRS -> beginning of T Answer: ST segment:
